Invasion checkers



Nlay` 13, 1947. J, J, JANlK 2,420,482

INVAS ION CHECKERS ATTDRNEYS May 13, 1947.

.1.4. JANIK INVASION CHECKERS Filed Nov. 2'?, 1944 3 Seets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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ATTCI R N EYE Ma!!V 13, 1947. J. J. JANIK INVASION CHECKERS Filed Nov. 27,'1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

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@KNWU ATTE! R N EYE Patented May 13, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INVASION CHLEGKERSV .lohn J. Janik, Niagara Fa1ls,.N...Y.

Application November 27, 1944, Serial- Nol `65318 2 Claims; (01.272 1360 The invention relates to` a game apparatus,

and more especially to a device for playing the' game of checkers. y

The primary object of the`Y invention is the provision of an apparatus or device of this character, wherein they standard game of checkers can be played or that game lt-.nownand titledl invasion checkers, inv the latter instance, the playing iield for maneuvering the playing pieces can be barricaded" at selected areas,- undeter-A mined by an opponent player, for the passing' ofreverse playing pieces onto the playin-g field, and such reserve playing piecescaptured, thereby defeating the player in theV winning of' the game, thus aordihg amusement and inter-.est tol all playing participants, with a challenge of'skillvand" the power of mental perception.

Another object of the invention isthe pro' vision of an apparatus of this character, wherein throughY the playing of a game therewith considerable fun and amusement is assured tothe respective players thereof, andi the. playing activity for the winning of such' game resembles invasion strategy in war maneuvering.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character', which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable; and eilicient in the operation thereof,l strong, durable, the mechanical working parts being under the control of the respective players of the game played thereon, foldable and compact when` not in use, and inexpensive to manufacture.,

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, in detail, illustrated in the accompanying. drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended. v

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, unfolded and in position for use for the playing of a game thereon.Y

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

Figure 3` is a view simi-lar toA Figure 2 with the apparatus folded for disuse.

Figure 4 is an end View of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 4 looking at the opposite end.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan View, partly in section, of the apparatus unfolded, with covering face removed.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line lll 2 1-1 of Figure 6 looking, inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure: 8 is: a sectional View taken on the line 8'8. of` Figure (i looking in the direction` cfthe arrows;

Figure 9A is a fragn'ientaryr vertical sectional view throughv theseatingi stations of several playing pieces, the latterbeing in side elevation.

liigure'lU-isaneniarged elevation of the playing pieces separated from their station seats.

Figure 11 is aviewf similar to Figure 10` looking toward: theV tops of: such pieces.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings;

Referring to drawings,` A. designates generally the apparatus or device.` constructed` in accordance' with the invention, and. in detail, comprises a` pair of substantialiy rectangular shaped boxliltebody sections iiil'y and. Iii, respectively, each being: of uniformi length', width and depth with respect tof each thereoii, and permanently walled at. l2, 1%, I4' and.' l5, to provide an enclosed compartment orv chamber IS. These sections in and tt are disposed in matched relation to each other', to` have their ends next to. cache other, connected together by hinges` lili, so= that such sections can' 'ee folded;V one upon the other, or unfolded, as bestseen in Figures l, 2i. 3, 41 and 'Z of the drawings'. 'lhesec'tions ill'and It when unfoldedipresent a piaying boardl or surface providing an in termediate checker-hoard playing eld or area t5, outer playing-piece reserve stations it, and trapping Zones 2l?, therebetween', respectively.

The zones Ztl are cut-away to accommodate swinging trap doors 2i, inthe present instance, iour in number to each Zone, and are uniformly spaced: from onev another', in a transverse row, of theV sections.- The doors" 21 are longitudinally directed inl parallel relation to each other toward the'eldor area i8', andg are supported by hinges 22 for their' swinging movements.

The" doors 2i are'normally held against dropping by-reieasable latches 23, one for each door, each of the latchesl 23 beingv operatively connected' to a rocker 214 supported on a shaft 25, and such rocker has connection withL push release rod 2t, having a contact head 2l, exposed through the hinged end of each section I0 and l I, with confinement in a pocket 28. The latches 23 are urged to latching position by tension springs 29 about the rods 26 next to the contact heads 21. The doors 2| drop Within the compartments 0r chambers I 6 for a purposepresently described.

selectively engageable with the contact heads 21 of the rods 26 in each section l0 and are the elbowed striker tips 30 of slidable and turnable control plungers 3|, mounted in the said sections, there being a pair for each of the latter, and the pair in one section operates a pair of the latches 23 in the other section, and clearances 32 in the hinged ends of such sections have been provided for thi-s operation. In the path of the swinging of the elbowed striker tips 30 are stops 33 for limiting the swing thereof. The cuter ends of the plungers 3| carry hand knobs 34 for the manual operation of the same, the said plungers being retracted from the heads 21 by springs 35.

In the playing field or area I8 at the station -spaces 35 thereof are provided rest seats 36 for holding the playing pieces 31, in the present instance, these are in the form of marbles, although they may be in the form of checker disks, images of soldiers or otherwise created, while the doors 2| and the zones 20, are formed with spaced rows of rest seats 38 and 39, respectively, for these playing pieces.

In companion sides of the sections I and Il are provided finger holes 40 conveniently usable for the folding and unfolding of such sections. The plungers 3| are rotated clockwise and counterclockwise for the selective engagement of their tips 30 with one of a pair of the rods 26 at the heads 21 thereof. In this manner, it should be seen that one or a pair of the doors 2| in the roW of four thereof in each of the sections I0 and Il can be released or unlatched for dropping movement into the compartment or chamber l companion thereto.

The purpose of the drop doors 2| in their arrangement and operation is that competitive players, in maneuvering their groups of playing pieces 31, for the playing of the game of checkers through the use of the apparatus or device A, an opponent can be defeated by bringing up reserve playing pieces from the Zone 20 where the latter are normally placed, onto the field or area i8, as `it being required that such reserve pieces be first placed on the doors 2|, in Zone I9, and then transferred onto the field or area I8. Now, each door may be termed an invasion bridge, and when released by an opponent player, the reserve playing pieces 31 on the bridge are dropped into the compartment or chamber I6, for the capture of such pieces. The player Who captures all the playing pieces 31 from the opponent player in this manner is proclaimed the winner of the game.

When one player adjusts these plungers 3|, under direct control of the latter, this enables the said player to release the doors on that side of the apparatus or device for the opponent player, so that the latters playing pieces 31 thereon will be dropped into the compartment or chamber I6 for the capture thereof. Each player can only trip two of the four bridges on the opponent side of the apparatus, and it is optional by such player as to which bridges are to be dropped. 'Ihe plungers 3| are arranged for door dropping operation at the beginning of each game and cannot be changed during the game. As a player cannot determine which of his doors will be dropped by his opponent, the player cannot defeat the loss of his player pieces through the dropping of such doors with resultant capture thereby.

It is of course understood that the playing pieces 31 of the group for one player are marked or distinguishable otherwise from the playing pieces of the group for another player, while certain of the playing pieces of each group will bear an identifying mark or symbol 4| t0 signify higher ranking value than other playing pieces of such group. rIhe standard rules for the playing of the well known game of checkers is followed in the playing of the invasion game thereof in the use of the apparatus or device A and the participants in the game is limited to two players.

What is claimed is:

l. A game apparatus of the kind described, comprising a pair of box-like sections, means con.. nected to corresponding portions of said box-like sections for swingingly connecting the same to each other, each of said box-like sections having its outer surface divided into a playing field portion and bridge portion, each said playing eld portion and bridge portion having game-piece receiving recesses therein, each said bridge portions having a plurality of depressible trap doors, latch means for releasably latching the trap doors closed, and manually-operable means located in each of said box-like sections for actuating the latch means in the other of said box-like sections, to unlatch the depressible trap doors in said other of said box-like sections.

2. A game apparatus of the kind described, comprising a pair of box-like sections, means connected to corresponding portions of said box-like sections for swingingly connecting the same to each other, each of said box-like sections having its outer surface divided into a playing field portion and bridge portion, each said playing eld portion and bridge portion having game-piece receiving recesses therein, each said bridge portions having a plurality of depressible trap doors, latch means for releasably latching the trap doors closed, and manually-operable means located in each of said box-like sections for selectively actuating the latch means in the other of said boxlike sections, to unlatch the depressible trap doors in said other of said box-like sections, said manually-operable means being reciprocably and rotatably mounted in each boX-like section whereby the said means in one of said box-like sections may be moved to selectvely unlatch the depressible trap doors in the other of said box-like sections.

JOHN J. JANIK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 919,148 Flint et al Apr. 20, 1909 947,603 Steacy Jan. 25, 1910 2,219,546 Petersen Oct. 29, 1940 2,221,267 Robertson Nov. 12, 1940 

